Biophysics Flashcards
What does the p wave represent on an ECG?
Atrial depolarisation
What does the QRS represent on an ECG?
Ventricular depolarisation (atrial repolarisation takes place at the same time)
What does the T wave present on an ECG?
Ventricular repolarisation
At what rate is an ECG recorded?
25mm/second
How long does a large square on an ECG represent?
0.2 seconds
How long does a little square on an ECG represent?
0.04 seconds
Which leads measure electrical heart activity in the frontal plane?
Limb leads (I, II, III) and augmented voltage leads (aVR, AVL, aVF)
Which leads measure electrical heart activity in the horizontal plane?
Chest leads - V1-V6
Which leads represent the lateral heart?
I, aVL, V5-V6
Which leads represent the septal part of the heart?
V1-V2
Which leads represent the anterior part of the heart?
V3-V4
Which leads represent the inferior heart?
II, III, aVF
What is the normal duration of the PR interval?
0.12-0.2 seconds
What is the normal duration of the QRS interval?
<0.12 seconds
What are the advantages of USS?
1) Non-invasive
2) Does not use ionising radiation
What are the functions of USS?
1) Determining the nature of tissues, e.g. cystic vs. solid
2) Assessing movement of tissues
3) Measurement of blood flow
4) Measurement of structures
At what frequencies are sound waves considered ultrasound?
Frequencies >20kHz
What is the frequency range used in abdominal USS?
1-5 MHz
What is the frequency range used in transvaginal USS?
5-10 MHz
How is ultrasound generated?
By generation of a pressure wave - a pressure wave being generated by a piezoelectric crystal placed in the transducer that contacts tissue under investigation. Piezoelectric crystals convert electrical energy to mechanical energy.
What are the 2 types of ultrasound?
1) Continuous-wave ultrasound
2) Pulsed-wave ultrasound
Which type of ultrasound is used for imaging purposes?
Pulsed-wave ultrasound
What are the three principle interactions of ultrasound with tissue?
1) Reflection
2) Scatter
3) Absorption
What tissue properties determine the degree of reflection?
The acoustic impedance - which is the density if the tissue (p), multiplied by the velocity of ultrasound in that particular tissue (c)
Z = p x c
The greater the difference in acoustic impedance between tissues, the greater the degree of reflection.
When does scatter occur?
When ultrasound interacts with structures with smaller dimensions than the wavelength of the ultrasound wave.
What is absorption with regard to ultrasound?
Absorption is the conversion of mechanical (ultrasound) energy into heat. Absorption increases with frequency.
What are the limitations of real-time (B-mode) USS scanning?
1) Inadequate spatial resolution
2) Inadequate penetration
3) Poor image quality
4) Low frame rate
5) Compromised field of view
6) Low line density
What is spatial resolution?
= the min distance between two reflectors that is necessary to be able to distinguish two separate echo signals.
What is spatial resolution determined by?
1) Axial resolution - determined by pulse length
2) Lateral resolution - determined by beam width
3) Slice thickness - determined by thickness of the transducer and therefore transducer design.
What factors influence ultrasound penetration?
Absorption and scatter
Absorption and scatter both increase with increased frequencies and therefore better penetration requires lower frequencies (and therefore better penetration = poorer resolution)
What information can doppler ultrasound yield?
1) Speed at which the target is moving
2) Direction of the motion
What is doppler frequency shift?
The difference in frequency between the returning echo and the transmitted ultrasound wave. It is used to assess blood flow.
What is a colour flow scanner?
Combines real-time B-mode imaging ultrasound with pulsed-wave doppler and colour flow imaging. Used to assess blood flow.
What does red on a colour flow scanner represent?
Flow TOWARDS the transducer
What does blue on a colour flow scanner represent?
Flow AWAY from the transducer
How are differing velocities represented on colour flow scanners?
Dark hues = low velocity
Bright hues = high velocity
What are the bioeffects of ultrasound?
1) Heating
2) Cavitation
What is the ‘thermal index’ with regard to ultrasound?
It is an estimate of the rise in tissue temperature that might be possible in a ‘reasonable worst-case scenario’. The operator should continually monitor the thermal index and keep it as low as is consistent with achieving a diagnostic result.
What are the three types of thermal index?
TIS - thermal index in soft tissues
TIB - thermal index in bone
TIC - thermal index in cranium
Which type of thermal index should you be monitoring in O&G?
TIS in scans in first 8/40
TIB in all other and subsequent scans
What is cavitation?
The lysing/damage of cells as a result of ultrasound
What is the wavelength rage of an x-ray?
10-0.1nm
What is the energy range of an x-ray?
120eV to 120keV
What is the difference between soft and hard x-rays?
Soft x-rays = energy <12keV
Hard x-rays = energy >12keV
How are x-rays produced?
Accelerating electron collide with a metal target — deceleration on collision results in electrons from the inner shell of the metal atom being knocked off —electrons from higher energy levels fill up the space and x-ray photons are emitted as a result?
What are the advantages of computed x-rays?
1) Do not require on-site wet processing facilities
2) Do not require non-renewable silver
3) Easier archiving/retrieval of images
4) Space-saving
What is the radiation dose of a hysterosalpingogram?
1mSv = 4 months of background radiation
What are the advantages of hysterosalpingogram?
1) Complications rare
2) Relatively quick
3) Valuable information re: tubal patency
What are the risks of hysterosalpingogram?
1) Small risk of cancer from radiation exposure
2) Flare-up of undiagnosed chronic PID
3) inadvertent exposure of an unsuspected early pregnancy to radiation
4) Small teratogenic risk associated with ovarian radiation
What is CT used for in gynaecology?
Assessment of pelvic tumours
How does MRI work?
Magnetic field aligns protons present in the water (H2O) molecules of tissues — a radiofrequency pulse is then used to disrupt the alignment of these protons — following the pulse the protons drift back into alignment emitting a detectable radiofrequency signal
How does spatial resolution in MRI compare to CT?
Spatial resolution - the ability to distinguish between two structures very close together as separate - is comparable to that of CT
How does contrast resolution in MRI compare to CT?
Contrast resolution - the ability to distinguish between two similar but not identical tissues - is better in MRI compared to CT
What is the current view on contrasts used in MRI in pregnancy?
Gadolinium-based agents are known to cross the placenta, however they appear to be safe, any gadolinium reaching the fetus being rapidly eliminated in urine. Therefore, such studies should be considered if important for the health of the mother
What type of USS surgery is MRI guided?
Uterine fibroids - MRI being used to target ultrasound beams. Ultrasound increases tissue temp to >65 degrees C, destroying it.
What are the disadvantages of MRI?
1) Claustrophobia
2) Noisy
3) Contraindicated in those with metal clips/pacing wires/metal fragments etc.
How does a diathermy machine work?
Converts mains low-frequency current - approx. 50Hz - into high frequency current ranging 200kHz-3.3MHz.
What can be achieved by diathermy?
Cutting, coagulation, vaporisation and/or destruction.
What is monopolar surgical diathermy?
The electric current is transported through the human body and back to the generator.
The electrode may take the form of a blade, ball, are needle tip or a loop.
What is bipolar diathermy?
When the current flow between the tips of forceps blades. One blade acts are the active electrode, the other as a return.
What are the differences in what can be achieved by monopolar vs. bipolar diathermy?
Monopolar = cutting or coagulations Bipolar = coagulation only
What type of electric current is used for cutting modes?
A low voltage continuous unmodulated sinusoidal waveform.
Electric arcs form between the tissue and the cutting electrode just above the tissue, produces a temperature such that cells are vaporised and a clean cut is achieved.